Revision as of 19:45, 13 July 2009

Once one of Toronto's poorest neighbourhoods, Cabbagetown is now a distinct neighbourhood populated with elegantly renovated Victorian homes. Cabbagetown gets its name from the large cabbages planted in their front lawns by Irish immigrants in the 19th century.

Contents

Get in

See

Allan Gardens located at the south side of Carlton Street between Jarvis and Sherbourne Streets, is a conservatory containing six greenhouses on large landscaped grounds. Admission is free and the greenhouses are open to the public year-round. The greenhouses contain plants native to many different countries and from different climactic regions of the world. Countries represented include Australia, Brazil, China, Mexico, and many others. On any given day one is likely to come across frolicking squirrels or birds that have found their way in through the doors. The ponds are home to turtles and fish and, if you look up, you just might see a snoozing raccoon. Allan Gardens is wheelchair accessible.

Riverdale Farm located in the heart of Cabbagetown, is a turn of the century, that would be the twentieth century, Ontario farm and the site of Toronto's first zoo. Riverdale Farm is located in the Old Cabbagetown at 201 Winchester Street, east of Parliament St., near Carlton St. There is no parking on the grounds, but street parking is available near by. Attractions include demonstrations of milking, cream separating, butter-making, egg collecting, sheep sheering, wool spinning and dying, amongst others. Admission is free.

Do

Cabbagetown Historical Home Tours

Cabbagetown Festival

Buy

Eat

JAMcafe is located in a historic building at 195 Carlton Street (west of Parliament). They feature fine bistro dining, a nice wine list, a summer patio and free parking. [1] 416-921-1255. Cranberries Restaurant on Parliament, north of Wellesley, serves good, reasonably priced meals, heavy on the comfort food. They also have great nightly specials.

Drink

Sleep

The Toronto Townhouse B&B 213 Carlton Street; +1 416 323-8898 [2] Toronto Tourism award winners, they offer suites and rooms from $79 and up and are just 4 city blocks from Yonge & College subway. Big pluses are free wi-fi and local & long distance calling.